Soysambu Conservancy has provided land for the construction of Lady Anne
Secondary School. One household participant expressed gratitude to
Soysambu for this initiative. However, there is a recurring call for
greater support for schools and education, as highlighted in both the
open-ended survey questions and the stakeholder workshops.
Specifically, participants made several requests for investments from Soysambu,
including:
Allocation of land between Baraka and Soysambu for the construction
of a primary school and other public utilities, as well as the
relocation of Kiboko Primary School to this land.
Construction of a primary school in Royal Estate.
Installation of ablution blocks in primary schools such as Kapkures,
Kambi Turkana, Oldubei, Olesirwa, Kelelwa, and Olepolos.
Establishment of an Early Childhood Education (ECDE) center in Jogoo
village, addressing a recognized need from community engagement
sessions.
Development of a nursery school in Kiwanja Ndege and Ngatta areas,
along with polytechnics and secondary schools.
Implementation of school feeding programs in Ol Jorai Primary
School.
Creation of a library in the Mololine area to engage the youth.
Provision of transportation for children commuting to Kiboko
Primary.
Furthermore, workshop participants suggested that Soysambu could offer
scholarships to the brightest students from primary schools across all
areas. Some respondents expressed concerns about the fairness of
scholarship provisions, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a fair
and transparent process.
Health and hospital facilities
Perhaps unsurprisingly, support for health initiatives within the
communities was another form of support that was reguarly mentioned.
During the survey, respondents expressed a collective desire for
improved health facilities, including the construction of hospitals,
provision of medical equipment, and upgrades to existing dispensaries.
In the Mbaruk area, one in five respondents echoed the need for expanded
healthcare infrastructure, including a hospital and a better-equipped
dispensary in Echareria. The sentiment was further reinforced during the
stakeholder workshops, with participants emphasizing the importance of
constructing essential facilities such as a maternity wing, staff houses
for health workers, and an outpatient wing in various locations,
including Kiungururia.
Similarly, in Oljorai, some respondents stressed the need for improved
health facilities in Kampi Turkana and Kapkures: “We need a hospital in Kapkures as women are losing children because a hospital is lacking”. The sentiment was echoed during the stakeholder workshops,
where requests for dispensaries at Kampi Turkana and Kapkures, along
with staff housing at the Oljorai health center, were highlighted.
While there were not specific requests from respondents in Kiptangwani
during the survey, during the stakeholder workshops, participants
emphasized the importance of equipping the maternity wing at the
Elementaita dispensary in Elementaita village.
Water Provision Services
The need for reliable access to water was a recurring theme among the
communities surveyed. Respondents highlighted the necessity for water
infrastructure such as dams and boreholes to address water scarcity,
especially during dry seasons.
In the Mbaruk area, a significant portion of respondents emphasized the
importance of water infrastructure, including the revival of existing
boreholes and the construction of new ones. Participants specifically
called for a water tower at Kiungururia and a borehole in Echareria
during the stakeholder workshops, indicating the critical need for
improved water access for water that passes through through Kiambogo and
near cultivated land to Soysambu: “Allow access to the water passing through Kiambogo to [Soysambu].”
Similarly, in Kasambara, participants echoed the sentiment for enhanced
water infrastructure, with requests for boreholes at Wamagwathi’s farm
and a pipe extension at Kianyeni village, to address water scarcity in
the region. In particular, participants called for the existing
boreholes near African Forest to be revived.
In Oljorai, a third of those surveyed underscored the necessity for dams
or water pans to mitigate water scarcity, particularly during dry
weather.
Respondents from Kiptangwani also expressed a pressing need for
community water provision, with 50% of survey respondents advocating for
improved water access. Stakeholder workshops reiterated the importance
of constructing water points and providing water pipes in key areas to
address water challenges effectively.
Overall, the stakeholder workshops served to emphasize the requests for
water distribution infrastructure (e.g. water points at Mwariki C, water
pipes in Jogoo village), a mega-dam at Soysambu to help harvest water
heading to Elementaita around Maisha poa area, a waterpan in Kampi
Turkana, and a borehole in Ngatta.
Livestock Management
Livestock management also emerged as a significant concern among the
communities surveyed, but particularly among those for whom livestock
are one of their most important livelihoods. The map below shows that
the second most important livelihood for most households, is livestock,
especially in places like Oljorat.
Therefore, unsurprisingly, requests and suggestions came primarily from
Oljorai, where most of those surveyed sought assistance in multiple
aspects of livestock management, including access to grazing fields
during dry seasons, provision of grass for livestock, livestock
management education programs, compensation for losses due to wildlife
encounters, and cessation of harassment by security personnel on
herders.
The stakeholder workshops further elucidated the community’s requests,
with a majority emphasizing the need for capacity building on improved
livestock management, access to grazing areas, hay production (some
suggested at Nderit primary school), livestock vaccination, and
infrastructure development such as cattle dips (e.g. at Kambi Shule).
Participants also highlighted the need for measures to mitigate
wildlife-livestock conflict, from Hyaenas in particular, with some
people suggesting the use of traps.
A number of respondents in the Mbaruk area also highlighted the need for
support in sustainable livestock management, as well as grazing access
(they mentioned on “unused land”), education on livestock management,
and access to animal vaccination services and artificial insemination.
Additionally, participants in Kasambara emphasized the long-standing
request for the provision of dairy goats and dairy cattle, underscoring
the community’s desire for diversified livestock options.
Environment and Sanitation
The preservation of the environment and promotion of sanitation also emerged as key priorities and survey respondents and workshop participants emphasized the importance of addressing environmental issues and implementing sanitation measures to improve community well-being.
Respondents from Mbaruk and Oljorai in particular, suggested that Soysambu could address environmental challenges by: installing sanitation points near highways; providing tree seedlings (also mentioned in Oljorai); and raising awareness about environmental conservation.
Additionally, workshop participants emphasized the importance of fencing and tree planting at Chamuka springs to safeguard natural resources and promote environmental sustainability.
Security
Ensuring the safety and security of residents and their property is important for community well-being. While many respondents from communities within Soysambu expressed satisfaction with the prevailing sense of security (see Figure above), it is evident that this is not the case in other areas.
In Mbaruk, 22% of survey respondents identified the need for additional security measures, specifically requesting assistance from Soysambu in constructing a police post in Murang’a Echereria, Mbaruk, and Mololine villages. This sentiment was further emphasized during the stakeholder workshops, with participants additionally advocating for the establishment of a police post in Royal estate.
These calls were echoed by respondents from Kiptangwanyi who also highlighted the need for administrative offices for the chief and assistant chiefs at the Kiptangwanyi chief’s camp.
Land and Fencing
Land usage and fencing emerged as significant concerns among respondents. During the survey and stakeholder workshops, a number of people expressed appreciation for Soysambu’s past initiatives, such as selling land to their fathers in Kiambogo.
In Mbaruk, 16% of respondents expressed various preferences regarding land usage within Soysambu. These included desires to purchase land from Soysambu if it were to become available, allocate portions of land for community purposes such as markets, graveyards, and waste disposal sites, and provide land to squatters at affordable rates.
In Soysambu, 35% of respondents suggested initiatives to optimize land usage which included requests for subsidized land allocations for cultivation purposes, setting aside land for vegetable farming, and advocating for the installation of electric fences around residential areas to bolster security measures.
Harrassment and compensation
In Oljorai, some respondents highlighted instances where individuals gathering firewood experienced perceived harassment. Additionally, there were reports of individuals feeling harassed during law enforcement activities. Concerns were also expressed regarding perceived delays or lack of compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for damage caused by wildlife to crops and livestock. These issues were not reported in other surveyed areas. It will be important for Soysambu to thoroughly investigate these reported incidents to ensure the well-being and safety of community members.
Further suggestions
Less frequently mentioned suggestions, or those posing potential implementation challenges, include prioritizing employment opportunities for community members within the conservancy and facilitating community participation in game drives to observe wild animals within the Soysambu Conservancy.
Recommendations
Here, we outline actionable steps and strategies aimed at enhancing the
conservation efforts and social impact management within Soysambu
Conservancy. Drawing upon the identified challenges and opportunities,
our recommendations seek to foster sustainable practices, improve
community engagement, and promote equitable outcomes for all
stakeholders involved.
Requests from communities
Here we have included all the suggestions that were made by survey respondents, or in the stakeholder workshops, into a table format.
Table 3: Community suggestions for other ways Soysambu could help the community.
Category | Suggestion |
|---|
Support for Schools and Education | Allocation of land between Baraka and Soysambu for the construction of a primary school and other public utilities, as well as the relocation of Kiboko Primary School to this land. |
Construction of a primary school in Royal Estate. |
Installation of ablution blocks in primary schools such as Kapkures, Kambi Turkana, Oldubei, Olesirwa, Kelelwa, and Olepolos. |
Establishment of an Early Childhood Education (ECDE) center in Jogoo village, addressing a recognized need from community engagement sessions. |
Development of a nursery school in Kiwanja Ndege and Ngatta areas, along with polytechnics and secondary schools. |
Implementation of school feeding programs in Ol Jorai Primary School. |
Creation of a library in the Mololine area to engage the youth. |
Provision of transportation for children commuting to Kiboko Primary. |
Offering scholarships to the brightest students from primary schools across all areas. |
Support for Health and hospital facilities | Construction of hospitals and dispensaries, provision of medical equipment, and upgrades to existing healthcare facilities. |
Establishment of a maternity wing, staff houses for health workers, and outpatient wings. |
Improvement of health facilities in various locations such as Kampi Turkana and Kapkures. |
Equipping the maternity wing at the Elementaita dispensary. |
Water Provision Services | Installation of water infrastructure including boreholes and water towers. |
Construction of dams, boreholes, and water towers. |
Revival of existing boreholes and extension of water infrastructure. |
Mitigation of water scarcity through the construction of water pans and pipes. |
Livestock Management | Access to grazing fields during dry seasons and provision of grass for livestock. |
Education programs on improved livestock management and capacity building. |
Compensation for losses due to wildlife encounters and cessation of harassment by security personnel on herders. |
Environment and Sanitation | Installation of sanitation points near highways and provision of tree seedlings. |
Fencing and tree planting at Chamuka springs. |
Raising awareness about environmental preservation. |
Security | Construction of police posts in various locations. |
Establishment of administrative offices for local authorities. |
Land and Fencing | Purchase and allocation of land for community use. |
Provision of land for cultivation and installation of electric fences. |
Community representation | Clear communication of rules and regulations, and establishment of quarterly general meetings. |
Fostering positive relationships and inclusion of the community in decision-making processes. |
Harrassment and compensation | Investigation of reported harassment incidents and compensation for wildlife-related damages. |
Further suggestions | Prioritizing employment opportunities for community members within the conservancy and facilitating community participation in game drives. |
Agricultural extension services
In the requests and suggestions from those surveyed and workshop
participants, there were a number of calls for education programs to
improve livelihoods. For most households, the principal livelihoods are
still agriculture based (with Kibarua or livestock for some). Soysambu
has already carried out some form of agricultural extension activity
through the farmer’s seminar on livestock production. This could be an
area that is expanded on to support those in the community who are
engaged in smallholder activities.
An extension programme could be designed to promote new methods and
solutions to inform smallholders on how to increase production (and
income) and become more food secure.
A needs-based assessment would be required for the target community and
tracking impact would be a crucial consideration. Changing farming
practices and behaviours is a particularly challenging objective in the
short-term as behaviours tend to change over longer periods of time and
often proof of success of new practices needs to be demonstrated for
changes in traditional farming practice to be adopted. As such, this
would be a longer-term programme allowing for shifts in both the
knowledge and attitudes of the target community with regards to the
practices being promoted and actually being implemented. Funding of
certain inputs should also be considered for the success of this
programme and for the farmers to be able to adopt some of the practices
being promoted.
An agricultural extension programme could be rolled out in a number of
ways, from inviting interested members of the community to watch videos
promoting new and improved farming methods – through to creating
demonstration farms to impart knowledge in a more practical manner and
allowing for participants to see changes over time.
The tables below set out some examples of how climate smart agriculture
could be promoted to the smallholder community. These suggestion aim to
increase farmer’s knowledge on farming practices that can improve
productivity in crop or livestock agriculture, and how farmers can adapt
their practices to accommodate an ever-changing climate.
Table 4: Agricultural extension - Soil Management
Theme | Content | Disbursement of information |
|---|
Soil health | Information sharing on what a soil test is and why it is important to do one e.g. can tell the health of the soil, PH levels, which crops can be grown in your soil and which fertilizer to use.
How to carry out a soil test. Should do a soil test every 3-5 years. | Practical demonstration - how to carry out a crop test.
Potential to fund soil tests for participants. Cost circa 1000 KSH per test. |
Conservation agriculture | A way of farming to keep nutrients and moisture in the soil. Helps control pests and diseases. Minimum tillage, mulching, crop rotation | Practical demonstration of all 3 activities. |
Soil management | The importance of fertilizer to return nutrients to soil.
Different types of fertilizer and nutrients at different stages of growth.
Manure - helps soil fertility and improves soil health over time – reducing the need for fertilizer. | Practical demonstration of fertilizer and manure application.
Possible provision of inputs for 1 season for participants. |
Table 5: Agricultural extension - Maize.
Theme | Content | Disbursement of information |
|---|
Planting | Informing participants that maize does not grow well in acidic soils. Soil test can determine this. What can be done if soil is acidic e.g. add lime.
Selecting the best maize variety for the area and using certified seeds (disease free and guaranteed to germinate).
Consider planting drought resistant crops too e.g. maize and sorghum.
Preparation of land for planting e.g. minimum tillage, marking planting lines, digging planting holes and manure and fertilizer application.
Plant beans between maize rows to boost soil health. | Practical demonstration of how to plant and education session on importance of certified seeds and contingency crops. |
Management | Importance of weeding, fertiliser and when do apply, soil testing (to gauge best fertilizer). | Practical demonstration. |
Pests and diseases | Plant certified seeds, keep farm weed free and rotate crops each season.
Scout for pests and diseases regularly and treat them as you see them.
How to deal with plants once diseased. | Education session e.g videos. |
Storage | The importance of harvesting and storing appropriately e.g. Dry maize thoroughly for 2-3 weeks on tarpaulin in the sun.
If storing in a sisal sack – treat maize first with pesticide (can’t be eaten for 6 months after treating). | Practical demonstration and education on alternative storage methods e.g. Hermetic bags.
Possible funding of hermetic bags for participants. |
Table 6: Agricultural extension - Livestock
Theme | Content | Disbursement of information |
|---|
Cows – Housing | Importance of good housing and what a cow shed should consist of e.g. Sleeping area, walking area, feeding area, milking place and calf pen.
Use concrete flooring.
Clean daily and use disinfectant. | Practical demonstration. |
Cows – feeding | Ensure good yields with provision of fodder crops, protein supplements (dairy meal, legume plants) along with vitamins and minerals.
What the average healthy cow needs to produce well. | Education session e.g. talk from experts or videos. |
Cows (dairy) - fodder | What grasses can be planted directly into the field and creating a nursery for other fodder grasses. | Practical demonstration. |
Cows (dairy) – Hay | Good for adapting to the changing climate.
How to make it. | Practical demonstration how and when to cut grass, drying it and storage. |
Cows (dairy) – Silage | Planning for the dry season. How to make it and how long it can be stored for. | Practical demonstration on how to make and store silage. |
Table 7: Water Management
Theme | Content | Disbursement of information |
|---|
Rainwater harvesting | How to build a rainwater harvesting system by fixing gutters to roofs and connecting to a tank. Building a water pan that collects and stores surface run off water for crops. | Demonstration on how to create gutters on roofs. Demonstration of creating a water pan. Possible funding of materials e.g. water storage tanks, gutters. |
Water management | Installing a drip irrigation system to save time and money. How solar power can also be used e.g. solar panels and solar pumps. | Demonstration of drip irrigation system. Possible funding of tanks, irrigation materials. |
Table 8: Financial literacy
Theme | Content | Disbursement of information |
|---|
Budgeting | What is it? Why it’s important. | Education session – talk given by an expert or video. |
Loans | Why take a loan e.g. farm inputs. Type of loan e.g. bank/SACCO/Chama.
Paying it back, interest, collateral. | Education session – talk given by an expert or video. |
Savings | Why save e.g. gets your through poor yields, buying inputs etc. Work out how much you can afford to save, where to put your money e.g. a bank etc. | Education session – talk given by an expert or video. |
Insurance | Why? Changing weather and unexpected losses. How insurance works etc. | Education session – talk given by an expert or video. |
Social Assessment of Protected Areas (SAPA) approach
The Social Assessment for Protected and Conserved Areas (SAPA), launched in 2014, responded to a need for a standardised, low-cost and relatively simple approach to assessing social impacts of protected or conserved areas (Franks, Small, and Booker 2018).